Boiler-feeder.



PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

J. P. SENTER. BOILER FEEDER.

APPLICATION nun mums. 1906.

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PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

J. F. SENTER. BOILER FEEDER. APPLICATION FILED MAR.16. 1906.

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JOHN F. SEN TER, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MORGAN LLEWELLYN, MICHAEL G. WEIDNER, AND J. HARRY STREET,

BOILER-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application. filed March 16, 1906. Serial No. 306,362.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. SENTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful BoilerFecder, of which the following is a specification.

While this invention relates more particularly to automatic means for regulating the amount of water fed to a boiler,it is not necessarily limited to this use, but may be employed in connection with any mechanism where the inflow or outflow of a liquid is to be graduated or controlled to certain requirements or within certain limits.

One of the principal objects is to provide a novel structure of a simple nature, which will effectively control the supply of liquid, and is of a nature not liable to become deranged or inoperative, said structure moreover including novel automatic mechanism, whereby should the feeder from any cause fail to operate properly, the attendant will receive timely notice before a danger point is reached.

\Vhile the invention may be embodied in a number of ways, the preferred form of structure is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the same, the valve being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, more clearly illustrating the actuating means for the signals.

In the embodiment illustrated, a casing or reservoir 6 is employed, which constitutes in effect a water column, and has a depending angular portion 7 of less diameter than the main body of the casing. Boiler connections inthe form of pipes S are connected to the upper and lower portions of the casing, and a portion of a boiler supply pipe is shown at 9. A balanced valve 10 is located in the pipe, and has an exposed stem 11. A gage glass 12 is connected to the casing and try coel s 13 are also mounted thereon.

A swinging gravity receptacle or tank 14 is associated with the casing, and is located at one side of the same. This tank is mounted on a yoke comprising a pair of conduit arms 15 and 16, one of which, as 15, has communication with the lower portion of the receptacle through a port 17, the other having communication with the upper portion of the receptacle through a stand pipe 18. The outer ends of the arms 15 and 16 are con- .nected to a pivot comprising a body 19, ar

ranged transversely within the depending portion 7 of the casing and having tubular pintle portions 20, screwed thereinto and j ournaled in stuffing boxes 21, located in the opposite side wall of said depending portion. The outer ends of the pintles are secured to the arms 15 and 16, as shown in Fig. 3, and the channels in said arms communicate with the independent channels formed in the pivot. One of the latter channels has an opening 22 that communicates with the lower portion of the casing, the other communicates with stand pipe 23, secured to the pivot and extending into the upper portion of the casing, the upper end. thereof being open. As a re sult, it will be seen that the upper portion of the casing is in comnninication with. the upper portion of the receptacle through one conduit, and the lower portion of the casing and the lower portion of the receptacle are in connnunicathm with another conduit. Consequently liquid will flow freely between the casing and receptacle, and the level will be the same in both. Blow-off cocks 24 communicate with the different conduits, and a blow-ofl' pipe 25 is preferably connected to the bottom of the depending portion of the casing, the latter being provided with a suitablevalve 26.

A bracket 27 is mounted on one side of the depending portion 7 of the casing, and journaled in said bracket is the offset fulcrum 28 of a lever, one arm 29 of said lever having a link connection 30 with the lower portion of the receptacle, another horizontally disposed arm 31 having mounted thereon a counterbalaneing weight 32. The weight 32 is slidable upon the arm 31, andis held in di'll'erent positions by a suitable set screw 33. The lever is also provided with a depending arm '34, slidably mounted on which is a movement equalizing weight 35, normally held against sliding movement by a suitable set screw 36. The stem 11 of the feed controlling valve is connected to a lever 37,

fulcrumed between its ends on a support 38 carried by the valve casing, said casing being preferably, though not necessarily secured to the lower end of the casing by a suitable ear 39. The lever 37 has adjustably connected to its free arm a link 40, which link is also adjustably connected to the arm 31 of the counterbalancing lever.

The operation of the structure is as follows :Assuming the device 8 and supply pipe 9 are connected to a suitable boiler, it will be apparent that as long as the level of water in the boiler is at a suihcient height to maintain a predetermined quantity of water in the water column casing 6 and the receptacle 14, the weight of the latter will overbalance the counterweight 32, and the valve 10 will be held closed. As the water evaporates in the boiler and the level therefore lowers, the weight 32 will overbalance the receptacle 14, thereby swinging the counterbalancing lever, and causing the valve 10 to open. -As a result, water will pass through the pipe 9 to the boiler. As soon, however, as the liquid again reaches a predetermined height, a reaction takes place, and the valve is again closed. By adjusting the counterweight 32, the action of the mechanism can be accurately arranged, so that the water feed is automatically, though carefully regulated, and the inflow is introduced to the boiler as the evaporation takes place. Consequently considerable fuel is saved, and the mechanism being absolutely automatic in its operation the danger of the burning of steam. generators or of explosions from low waterbauses is brought to a minimum. Moreover, in this structure, no internal mechanism, such as floats, diaphragms, springs or the like are employed, and the parts are not liable to become clogged or inoperative. The weight 35 is an important feature, in that it serves to equalize and regulate the operation of the receptacle, and prevent any sudden movements of the same and corresponding. opening and closing movements of the valve. I No broad claims to this valve operating mech anism are made herein, as said clalms are presented 1n an apphcation of even date with this one.

In the present embodiment, means for notifying the attendant in case the valve mechanism operates improperly are employed. This means is preferably as follows. A suitable whistle 41 of any suitable structure is mounted on the upper end of the casing 6, and communicates therewith, the communication, however, being controlled by a suitable valve 42 of any well known structure, which valve includes a projecting reciprocatory stem 43. Sets of spaced ears 44 are carried by the casing valve, and are provided with slots 45. Between these ears is mounted a head 46, having an outstanding arm 47, the head being provided with spaced fulcrums 48 located in the slots 45 of the ears. The inner end of said head has an intermediate portion bearing against the valve stem 42. By this construction, it will be apparent that if the arm 47 is moved upwardly or downwardly, the valve stem 42 will be forced inwardly, thereby opening the valve, so that the whistle will be operated.

An electric alarm, as for instance, a bell 49 is also preferably employed, said bell being located in a suitable circuit diagrammatically shown at 50, which circuit includes a source of electric energy 51 and a circuit closer, that is arranged on the free end of the arm 47. This circuit closer comprises a stationary contact 52, secured to one side of the arm 47 and contact springs 53 fastened to the upper and lower portions of said arm, and having their free ends disposed on opposite sides of and normally spaced from the contact 52. An operating stem 54 is pivoted, as shown at 55 to the supporting yoke for. the receptacle 14, and this stem h as a slid able engagement with the arm 47 directly adjacent to the circuit closer. Adjustable abutments in the form of nuts 56 are threaded upon the stem 54 on opposite sides of the arm and the circuit closer, and these abutments or nuts are arranged to engage with the springs 53 upon an abnormal movement of the stem 54 in either direction.

Jnder thenormal operation of the mechanism, that is to say, during the normal rise and fall of the receptacle 14, the abutments 56 will not engage the con tact springs 53, and consequently neither the whistle nor the electric signal will be operated. If, how ever, the level of the water within the boiler should rise or fall to an abnormal extent, either one or the other of the abutments 56 will strike the adjacent spring, and cause the same to engage with the stationary contact device 52, thereby closing the circuit and ringing the bell. A still further movement of the stem in either direction will cause the swinging of the arm 47, which as already described wi ll effect the operation of the whistle 41. It will thus be seen that the attendant will be very effectively notified of 'the improper action of the feeding mechanism before a danger point is reached. The time of the operation of the signals may be altered byvarying the distances of the abutments 56 from the contact springs, so that said signals may be made to coact with different levels of the water, accordingly as the position of the counterweight 52 may be changed. It will thus be seen that simple mechanism lever, and a valve operated by the receptacle.

movable gravity receptacle, spaced conduits is provided for controlling the feed of water to a boiler or the [low of a liquid to or from any mechanism desired, that said mechanism is of a character not liable to derangement or to become inoperative, and yet is provided with signaling mechanism that further eliminates the danger of accident. In the structure, moreover, the receptacle constitutes actuating means not only for the valve, but for the whistle and electric alarm, thereby performing three distinct functions.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein described inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will he understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a casing, of a movable gravity receptacle having communication therewith, a counterbalam-e for the receptacle, a movement equalizing device connected to the receptacle, and a valve connected to and operated upon by the receptacle.

In a structure of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a movable gravity receptacle having connnuuication therewith, a lever connected to the gravity receptacle, a counterbalancing weight, a movement equalizing weight mounted on the 3. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a casing, of a connecting the receptacle and casing and having communications with dil'l'erent portlonsthereol', a lever connected to the receptacle and having angularly disposed arms, a counterweight mounted on one of the arms, a movement equalizing weight mounted on another of the arms, a supply pipe, a valve located therein, a lever connected to the valve and a connection between the levers.

ll In a structure of the class described, the combination with a reservoir, of swinging conduits located on opposite sides of the lower portion of the reservoir and pivoted thereto, one of said conduits having communication with the lower portion of the reser' voir, a stand pipe located in the casing and connected to the otherconduit, said stand pipe having an open upper end communicating with the upper portion of the reservoir, a 1 swinging receptacle mounted on the outer ends of the conduits and supported by the l same, a stand pipe located in the receptacle and connected to the conduit to which the first mentioned stand pipe isconnected, the other conduit communicating with thelower portion of said receptacle, a valve disposed exteriorly of the reservoir, and actuating means for the valve connected to the reser voir and controlled by the movement of the same.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a pivot rod extending across the casing and having oppositely extending independent passageways therein, one of said passageways communicating with the lower portion of the casing, a stand pipe connected to the other passageway and having an open upper end communicating with the upper portion of the casing, swinging conduit arms located on opposite sides of the casing and connected to the ends of the pivot rod, being respectively in communication with the passageways therein, a swinging receptacle mounted on the outer ends of the arms, a stand pipe located in the receptacle and connected to the arm with which the first mentioned stand pipe is in connnunication, the other arm communicat ing with the lower portion of saidreceptacle, a valve disposed exteriorly of the casing, and actuating means for the valve controlled by the movement of the receptacle.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a reservoir, of a valve located outside the reservoir, a swinging receptacle, actuating means for the valve operated by the receptacle and disposed outside the reservoir and receptacle, a pivot rod extending across the lower portion of the reservoir and journaled in the opposite walls thereof, conduits secured to the rod on opposite sides and exteriorly of the reservoir and connected to the receptacle, said conduits and rod having separate passageways, one of which communicates directly with the lower portions of the receptacle and reservoir, and stand pipes connected to the other passageway and located respectively in the reservoir and receptacle, said pipes having open upper ends communicating respectively with the interiors of the casing and receptacle.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a casing, of stuffing boxes mounted in the opposite walls of the casing, a pivot rod journaled in the stuffing boxes, said rod extending across the casing and pro jecting beyond the ends thereof, arms secured to said ends, a receptacle mounted on the arms, said arms and pivot rod having independent passagmvays, one of which communicates with the lower portion of the receptacle and the lower portion of the casing, stand pi es connected to the other passageway and raving open upper ends located iio in the upper portions of the casing and re- In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as ceptacle, a lever fulcrumed between its ends my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature IO on the casing at one side of the pivot rod, a in the presence of two Witnesses.

link connection between the lever and receptacle, a counter Weight slidably mounted JOHN SENTER' on the lever, a valve including a stem, an- Witnesses:

other lever connected to the stem, end a link A. H. CHAPMAN,

connection between the levers. A. B. JOHNSON. 

